We have a duty. a sacred duty. to protect those of the laboring classes entering this country and unable adequately to protect themselves against the grave injustices of exploitation. underpayment. undernourishment. substandard health and living conditions. and other unwholesome. undesirable. antisocial effects that almost always accompany the padronepeonage system of indenture which throughout history has been so demoralizing. degrading. and harmful to the human race in its struggle for decent standards of living. We can recall that in history the same arguments that are advanced today in behalf of this resolution were similarly employed to justify the slave traffic with its debasement of human and spiritual valuesa traffic which denied the essential dignity of man and condemned him to be sold and bartered in the market places of exploitation as a common chattel. Thirdly. the measure will be disruptive of our own American labor supply and conditions. as well as our immigration. tax. and socialsecurity laws. I would not oppose the adoption and implementation of any reasonable arrangement that can be arrived at by and between our Government and the great Government of Mexico. This arrangement should not be unilateral. but bilateral. and mutually and reciprocally expressed and agreed upon as establishing decent terms and conditions and insuring the maintenance of satisfactory and adequate standards.
Keywords matched
immigration